Back to 1980 once more with another visit to the Tyne and Wear Metro just a few months after it had welcomed its first passengers.<\/p>\n
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Parts of the Metro clearly demonstrated that quite a lot of expense had been spared when implementing the scheme, an approach evident in quite a number of British infrastructure projects, particularly in the provinces. Although the unidentified Metrocars, heading for Tynemouth despite the destination display, look very smart, the coat of yellow paint applied to the footbridge and station canopy cannot disguise the fact that as little money as possible has been spent on converting Monkseaton from a British Rail station to a Metro stop. The general state of the trackbed and surrounding area demonstrates the lack of attention paid to landscaping, while the adaptations to the station for its new role could have gone a lot further. The premises of Viking Brews did not do much to detract from the general air of neglect.<\/p>\n
Despite that it was the new order for the Tyne and Wear region and one which has proved to be a success with major investment continuing in its upgrade recently.<\/p>\n
Words by Donald Brooks<\/em><\/p>\n
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